medium hold styling control
Synthetic hold polymers are present.
- VP/VA Copolymer
- Polyquaternium-11
- Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein
Supported
Structure that lasts the day.
Kenra
Volume Mousse 12
Styler / Mousse, medium-hold
- Styler
- mousse
- aerosol
- Sulfate-free
- Curly-method
- Lightweight
- Cruelty-free · PETA-listed
Size8 ozusual store size · 2 sizes
Price$20–21commonly seen · 8 oz · from $1.56/oz in the 12.8 oz
Price / oz$2.63/ozat 8 oz
Where to buy8 stores · 2 sizes
Add it to your products. We’ll tell you if it’s ever recalled.
Scent:
Reviewers describe it as musk.
Strength: Strong
Manufacturer page: kenraprofessional.com
Personal fit
Is this right for you?
Complete the consultation to see how well this product fits your hair and your goals. With 6,000+ products in our library, we can match you to the right ones.
- About 20 minutes, and your answers save as you go.
- Every product matched against your hair across the 23 factors we check.
- A personalized routine built around your schedule, styling habits, and local weather.
- Find products that do the same job at a lower cost.
- Your goals, scalp, damage history, water, budget, and scent preferences all shape your plan.
$49 with 60 days of follow-up questions and plan updates
$99 with 12 months. Pay once; the year renews only if you choose.
Factor
Your profile
Fit
Best for hair types
All types
Not in your profile
Moisture level
Moderate
Not in your profile
Hold (as stated)
Medium
Not in your profile
Slip / detangling
High
Not in your profile
Weight on hair
Light
Not in your profile
Fragrance
Present
Not in your profile
Protein
Minor
Not in your profile
Silicone / wax buildup
Low
Not in your profile
Clarifying wash needed
Low
Not in your profile
Scent
Amber & spiceStrong strength
Not in your profile
Show all 23 factors we check
The rest of what your plan weighs on this product.
Parabens / preservatives
None of these listed
Not in your profile
Essential oils
Present
Not in your profile
Fast-drying alcohol
None
Not in your profile
Vegan / cruelty-free
Cruelty-free · PETA-listed
Not in your profile
Animal-derived ingredients
Not yet verified
Not in your profile
Aerosol can
Pressurised can
Not in your profile
Needs heat to set
Air-sets
Not in your profile
Heavy humectants
Not heavy
Not in your profile
Hard-water defence
None
Not in your profile
UV filter
Present
Not in your profile
Ingredient list
25 ingredientsAbout average
Not in your profile
Price tier
Masstige
Not in your profile
Where to buy it
Brand website · Ulta +1Widely sold
Not in your profile
The consultation builds your hair profile, checks every factor in this table against it, and tells you where this product fits or what to use instead.
Start your consultation$49 once, with 60 days of follow-up questions and plan updates. Nothing renews, and you never have to buy a product.
Your avoid-list
Upper-mid price for a mouss
$2.63/oz at 8 oz, more than 51% of the 201 mousses , which mostly run $1.54–4.14/oz.
Great for
Maximum slipfor hair that tangles the moment it is wet
Curly-method routinesno sulfates and no water-insoluble silicones
Curl definitionfilm formers hold a clump together
Fine hairthat flattens under most products
Soft-hold stylesthat should stay touchable
Very dry hairno fast-drying alcohol in the list
Maybe skip if
this product has a strong scent
Anyone who dislikes a castthe film formers here can set firm
Silicone-free routinesit does contain silicones, the water-soluble kind
Aerosol avoidancethis is a pressurised can
What the formula actually does
Read from the label, not the marketing
Each row says where it comes from: F means we derived it from this product’s own ingredient list, S means it is a claim the brand makes that the formula neither confirms nor contradicts.
Hold (as stated)
Medium
A medium hold, as stated by the brand.
Hold system
Synthetic polymer
Synthetic hold polymers, the firmest kind of hold.
Cast risk
Likely
Film formers with little to soften them, so expect a cast to scrunch out.
Weight on the hair
Light
Water-first and light: unlikely to flatten fine hair.
Oil absorption
None
No absorbent powders or starches.
Oils and butters
None
No oils or butters in the list.
Fast-drying alcohol
None
No fast-drying alcohol in the list.
Needs detergent to remove
Rinses with water
The silicones here are the water-soluble kind.
Fragrance
Present
Fragrance is listed; it sits below the working ingredients.
from the formula
stated by the brand
reported by reviewers
Scale: 1 dot low · 5 dots high, within this product type.
Ingredients that matter
The ingredients that change a decision
The workhorse ingredients, plus anything lower down that changes a decision. The chips name what an ingredient does. They are not safety scores, and no ingredient here is rated good or bad on its own.
| Ingredient | What it does | Why it matters | Chip |
|---|---|---|---|
| WaterAQUA (WATER, EAU) | solvent | The base everything else is dissolved in | Neutral |
| Isobutane | propellant | Pushes the product out of the can | Neutral |
| Propane | propellant | Pushes the product out of the can | Neutral |
| VP/VA Copolymer | film former | Lays down the film that holds a shape | Holds |
| Polyquaternium-11 | film former | Lays down the film that holds a shape | Detangles |
| PEG-150 Distearate | thickener | Sets the texture | Stabilizes |
| PEG-12 Dimethicone | emollient | Softens and smooths the strand | Shine |
| Phenoxyethanol | preservative | Keeps the product from spoiling | Stabilizes |
| FragrancePARFUM (FRAGRANCE) | fragrance | The scent | Fragrance |
| Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein | film former | A supporting film former | Protein |
| Linalool | fragrance | The scent | Fragrance |
| Geraniol | fragrance | The scent | Fragrance |
What the list leaves out, and what it carriesThe list carries no sulfates or drying alcohols. Fragrance is on the label. This is a pressurised can.
Full ingredient list (25)
In the US, ingredients above 1% are listed from most to least. Below 1% they can appear in any order. Each note keeps three things apart: what the ingredient generally does, its role in this type of product, and what its position can tell you.
-
1
Water
· AQUA (WATER, EAU)
General function
The base of almost every rinse-off and cream hair product. It carries everything else and is normally the first ingredient on the label.
Leading ingredientListed in the first three ingredients, it is likely a structural part of this formula.
- solvent
-
2
Isobutane
General function
A pressurised gas that pushes an aerosol out of the can and evaporates on contact.
Leading ingredientPubChemListed in the first three ingredients, it is likely a structural part of this formula.
- propellant
-
3
Propane
General function
An aerosol propellant, usually blended with butane to set the spray pressure.
Leading ingredientPubChemListed in the first three ingredients, it is likely a structural part of this formula.
- propellant
-
4
VP/VA Copolymer
General function
A hold polymer that dries to a clear film. It sets the style and washes out with water.
Supporting ingredientListed in positions 4–8, it likely makes a meaningful contribution alongside the formula's main ingredients.
May suitClimate-sensitive or frizz-prone hairA set polymer film is a physical barrier to humidity, so a style keeps its shape longer in damp conditions.
May suitMaximum-hold stylingSynthetic film formers dry into a continuous film, which is what holds a shape against movement and against humid air.
DependsBuild-up-sensitive routinesSome acrylate copolymers rinse with water and some need a detergent; the label alone does not say which one a formula used.
- film former
- polymer
-
5
Polyquaternium-11
General function
A styling and conditioning polymer that adds light hold and shine, common in mousses and setting sprays.
Supporting ingredientListed in positions 4–8, it likely makes a meaningful contribution alongside the formula's main ingredients.
May suitCurls or waves needing flexible holdCationic polymers hold a curl loosely and stay soft, which is why they turn up in definition products rather than firm-hold ones.
May suitFrizz-prone, damaged, or high-friction hairA cationic polymer stays on the hair through rinsing, which is what keeps static and combing friction down after the wash.
May suitMaximum-hold stylingFilm formers are what hold a style: they dry into a connected film across the strands so the shape resists movement.
- film former
- polymer
- conditioning agent
-
6
PEG-150 Distearate
General function
A thickener that gives shampoo and body wash their pourable, slightly gel-like texture.
Supporting ingredientListed in positions 4–8, it likely makes a meaningful contribution alongside the formula's main ingredients.
- thickener
- emulsifier
-
7
PEG-12 Dimethicone
General function
A water-soluble silicone that smooths without the build-up concern of standard silicones.
Supporting ingredientListed in positions 4–8, it likely makes a meaningful contribution alongside the formula's main ingredients.
May suitBuild-up-sensitive routinesThe PEG- and PPG-modified silicones disperse in water, so ordinary washing carries them off instead of leaving a film to accumulate.
May suitClimate-sensitive or frizz-prone hairA surface film slows how quickly humidity reaches the cortex, which is what limits swelling-driven frizz in damp air.
May suitFrizz-prone, damaged, or high-friction hairDelivers the slip and surface smoothing of a silicone without needing a detergent wash to remove it afterwards.
- emollient
- silicone
- water-soluble silicone
- ▾Below about here, the order stops meaning much. These are usually used at 1% or less.
-
8
Phenoxyethanol
General function
The most common modern preservative; it keeps the product free of bacteria and mould. It sits well below 1% of the formula.
Estimated lower-concentration zonePubChemIt appears around or below the estimated 1% line, where label order no longer indicates relative amount; its role may be minor or technical.
- preservative
-
9
Propylene Glycol
General function
A small humectant and solvent that keeps formulas stable and helps active ingredients spread.
Estimated lower-concentration zoneIt appears around or below the estimated 1% line, where label order no longer indicates relative amount; its role may be minor or technical.
PubChemMay suitFine or easily flattened hairLight and water-binding rather than oily, so it adds less weight than oils or butters do.
May suitVery dry or highly damaged hairA small water-binding solvent. It holds moisture and helps the rest of the formula spread evenly over the strand.
DependsClimate-sensitive or frizz-prone hairA humectant follows the air: it holds water in humid conditions and can give it up in very dry ones. Climate decides what it does more than the label does.
- humectant
- solvent
-
10
Polysorbate 80
- emulsifier
- solubilizer
-
11
Fragrance
· PARFUM (FRAGRANCE)
General function
An undisclosed blend of scent ingredients. Regulations let it stay unlisted, so a fragrance-free product is the only way to be certain what is not in it.
Estimated lower-concentration zoneIt appears around or below the estimated 1% line, where label order no longer indicates relative amount; its role may be minor or technical.
May not suitFragrance-sensitive routinesDeclared fragrance. On a fragrance-sensitive routine this is the line that decides it, wherever it sits on the label.
- fragrance
- declared fragrance
-
12
Ethylhexylglycerin
General function
A preservative booster that also adds a little softness. Almost always paired with phenoxyethanol.
Estimated lower-concentration zoneIt appears around or below the estimated 1% line, where label order no longer indicates relative amount; its role may be minor or technical.
PubChemMay suitFrizz-prone, damaged, or high-friction hairEmollients fill and smooth the surface of the strand, which lowers the friction that lifts the cuticle and reads as roughness.
- preservative
- emollient
-
13
Benzophenone-4
General function
A UV filter added to keep the product itself, and dyed hair, from fading in light.
Estimated lower-concentration zoneIt appears around or below the estimated 1% line, where label order no longer indicates relative amount; its role may be minor or technical.
PubChemMay suitGray, silver, or brass-prone hairSunlight oxidises hair pigment, and on gray, silver or lightened hair that shows up as yellowing. A UV filter on the label absorbs some of the light that drives it.
- UV filter
-
14
Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein
General function
Wheat protein broken into fragments small enough to cling to the hair. It adds temporary strength and body; too much can feel stiff.
Estimated lower-concentration zoneIt appears around or below the estimated 1% line, where label order no longer indicates relative amount; its role may be minor or technical.
May suitFrizz-prone, damaged, or high-friction hairFilling surface gaps evens out the cuticle, which is part of what makes damaged hair comb and reflect light more like undamaged hair.
May suitMaximum-hold stylingFilm formers are what hold a style: they dry into a connected film across the strands so the shape resists movement.
May suitVery dry or highly damaged hairHydrolysed fragments are small enough to sit in the gaps of a worn cuticle for a wash or two, temporarily restoring stiffness and cutting breakage in combing.
- film former
- protein
- hydrolysed protein
-
15
Sodium Chloride
- salt
- thickener
-
16
Potassium Sorbate
- preservative
-
17
Linalool
General function
A floral fragrance component listed separately as a recognised contact allergen.
Estimated lower-concentration zoneIt appears around or below the estimated 1% line, where label order no longer indicates relative amount; its role may be minor or technical.
PubChemMay not suitFragrance-sensitive routinesOne of the 26 scent components the EU requires to be named individually above a threshold. It is named because it is a known contact allergen, not because it is unusual.
- fragrance
- named fragrance allergen
-
18
Geraniol
General function
A rose-scented fragrance component, listed on its own because some people react to it.
Estimated lower-concentration zoneIt appears around or below the estimated 1% line, where label order no longer indicates relative amount; its role may be minor or technical.
May not suitFragrance-sensitive routinesOne of the 26 scent components the EU requires to be named individually above a threshold. It is named because it is a known contact allergen, not because it is unusual.
- fragrance
- named fragrance allergen
-
19
Benzyl Alcohol
- preservative
- solvent
-
20
Citronellol
General function
A rose-like fragrance component named separately as a recognised allergen.
Estimated lower-concentration zoneIt appears around or below the estimated 1% line, where label order no longer indicates relative amount; its role may be minor or technical.
PubChemMay not suitFragrance-sensitive routinesOne of the 26 scent components the EU requires to be named individually above a threshold. It is named because it is a known contact allergen, not because it is unusual.
- fragrance
- named fragrance allergen
-
21
Limonene
General function
A citrus-smelling fragrance component that EU rules require to be named separately because some people react to it.
Estimated lower-concentration zoneIt appears around or below the estimated 1% line, where label order no longer indicates relative amount; its role may be minor or technical.
PubChemMay not suitFragrance-sensitive routinesOne of the 26 scent components the EU requires to be named individually above a threshold. It is named because it is a known contact allergen, not because it is unusual.
- fragrance
- named fragrance allergen
-
22
Geranyl Acetate
General function
A rose-scented fragrance component related to geraniol.
Estimated lower-concentration zoneIt appears around or below the estimated 1% line, where label order no longer indicates relative amount; its role may be minor or technical.
May not suitFragrance-sensitive routinesOne of the 26 scent components the EU requires to be named individually above a threshold. It is named because it is a known contact allergen, not because it is unusual.
- fragrance
- named fragrance allergen
-
23
Citrus Aurantium Peel Oil
General function
A cold-pressed orange peel oil used for scent. Citrus oils are naturally high in limonene.
Estimated lower-concentration zoneIt appears around or below the estimated 1% line, where label order no longer indicates relative amount; its role may be minor or technical.
May not suitFragrance-sensitive routinesEssential oils are fragrance. Several carry constituents on the EU list of declared fragrance allergens, so a label with no fragrance line can still be a scented product.
- botanical extract
- essential oil
- fragrance
-
24
acetyl cedrene
General function
An individual aroma chemical. It is part of the product's fragrance; brands that print these are disclosing more of the blend than the rules require.
Estimated lower-concentration zoneIt appears around or below the estimated 1% line, where label order no longer indicates relative amount; its role may be minor or technical.
May not suitFragrance-sensitive routinesDeclared fragrance. On a fragrance-sensitive routine this is the line that decides it, wherever it sits on the label.
- fragrance
-
25
Terpineol
General function
A lilac-like fragrance component found naturally in several essential oils.
Estimated lower-concentration zoneIt appears around or below the estimated 1% line, where label order no longer indicates relative amount; its role may be minor or technical.
May not suitFragrance-sensitive routinesDeclared fragrance. On a fragrance-sensitive routine this is the line that decides it, wherever it sits on the label.
- fragrance
What the whole list adds up to
- 9 fragrances
- 5 named fragrance allergens
- 4 preservatives
- 3 solvents
- 3 film formers
- 2 propellants
- 2 polymers
- 2 thickeners
- 2 emulsifiers
- 2 emollients
- 1 conditioning agent
- 1 silicone
- 1 water-soluble silicone
- 1 humectant
Ingredient list captured 2026-08-26. Formulas change, so check the package in your hand when an ingredient matters to you.
Price · 8 oz
Commonly seen
$20–21
Good value under
$21
Good value on sale. Some stores sell it under the $21 line; products that do this job typically go for about $21 at this size.
Sizes
8 ozusual store size
$20–21
$2.63/oz
12.8 oz
$19–24
$1.56/oz
The 12.8 oz costs 41% less per ounce than the 8 oz.
Show the price ladder
Where we’ve seen it9 listings · 8 stores
8 ozusual store size
-
Macy's
$17.858 oz · $2.23/ozAug 30Lowest per ozSale · was $21.00
-
Ulta Beauty
$21.008 oz · $2.63/ozAug 30
-
Sephora
$21.008 oz · $2.63/ozAug 30
-
Kenra
$21.008 oz · $2.63/ozAug 26
-
Kenra
$21.008 oz · $2.63/ozAug 25
-
CVS
$21.998 oz · $2.75/ozAug 30
12.8 ozBest per ounce
-
Istyle Beauty Supplies
$18.2312.8 oz · $1.42/ozAug 30Lowest per oz
-
Walmart
$19.9712.8 oz · $1.56/ozAug 30
-
LaLa Daisy
$28.9512.8 oz · $2.26/ozAug 30Sale · was $42.00
Sorted by price per ounce. Dated observations from our research, not live prices. Direct store pages, no affiliate links. We don’t sell this product.
How we work this out
- 8 oz is the size stores list most often; every comparison on this page is made at it. Other sizes are shown in the Sizes row and the store list.
- Commonly seen is the middle half of current prices for the 8 oz at recognised stores. We leave out the cheapest and most expensive quarters, so one sale or one overpriced listing can’t move it.
- Good value under $21 comes from the 8 products we score as doing the same job as this one. A quarter of them cost less than $2.60/oz; at 8 oz that is $21. Under that line you are paying less than most of them.
- Each size is guarded on its own, so a multipack or a marketplace listing at one size cannot move another.
- About $21 is what those same products typically cost at this size: the midpoint of their prices per ounce, scaled to 8 oz.
Formula
10
Formula score
10 of 10
A complete formula at an ordinary price: mid-range per ounce among mousses, with the working systems in place.
How the score is counted
- 1 products that do the same job cost less per ounce
- Costs more per ounce than 51% of the 201 mousses we’ve priced
- Covers 6 of the 6 things a mouss should do
- Reviewers mention 2 things they like about how it performs
- A hold systemThe polymer, gum, or wax that holds the shape.3 pts
- Softeners alongside the holdWhat keeps a film flexible instead of brittle.2 pts
- No drying alcohol in the first threeFast drying without leading on alcohol.2 pts
- A humectantBinds water into the hair.1 pt
- A humidity claim with a mechanismThe claim has a film former or silicone behind it.1 pt
- Fragrance kept out of the top eightScent as a finishing touch, not a major share.1 pt
The formula score measures completeness for the job: a weighted share of the systems this product type is usually built around that we find in this list. It does not rate how well the product works or its quality, and it never compares across product types.
Does the same job, for less
Formulas that do the same things (cleanse, condition, coat or hold) for less per ounce. Scent, texture and where you buy them can still differ.
Umberto GianniniLowest cost per oz
Curl Whip Mousse
$1.80/oz $0.83/oz less
- Protein-free
- Curly method
- Lightweight
- Function
- Also
See more alternatives in the product library
These products do a similar job. We haven’t matched them to you. Find the one that fits your hair, routine and budget
Final decision
Should you buy it?
A solid pick for the hair it suitsBest user
People who want maximum slip, for real detangling slip and a curly-method-compatible formula
Biggest tradeoff
Not ideal for anyone sensitive to fragrance, anyone who will not scrunch out a cast, or silicone-free routines
Best alternative if not
Umberto Giannini Curl Whip Mousse, for similar results at a lower price
We do not sell products or take placement fees. This page states what the formula and the prices show; the consultation is what matches it to a person.
Claims check
What the brand says, and what the formula shows
Claims are quoted from the brand. We mark a claim supported, partly supported or conflicting only when the ingredient list speaks to it. Everything else stays "stated by the brand". That isn’t a criticism: most claims can’t be checked from a label.
2
SupportedBacked by ingredients
0
Partly supportedSome supporting logic
2
Stated by brandNo clear evidence
0
Potential conflictFormula works against claim
non-drying and non-flaking
No over-the-counter anti-dandruff active appears in the list.
—
Stated by brand
Soothing, not an active treatment.
tames frizz and conditions
Silicones or film formers smooth the cuticle, which is the usual mechanism.
- VP/VA Copolymer
- Polyquaternium-11
- PEG-12 Dimethicone
Supported
Smoother strands, less frizz.
thermal protection up to 450°F
Heat protection is a performance claim; an ingredient list cannot confirm it.
- VP/VA Copolymer
- Polyquaternium-11
- PEG-12 Dimethicone
Stated by brand
Only lab testing can show this.
How to read this
We look at the first 10–15 ingredients and what they do in a formula, not at the marketing. If the list doesn't speak to a claim, we don't assume.
Reviewers
What people report
Themes that come up again and again in sourced reviews, written by our researchers in their own words. We don’t store or scrape star ratings.
A thick curly-haired reviewer reports light, fluffy, defined curls after returning to this mousse for natural styling.
medium-long natural curly hairA recent fine-haired reviewer says the mousse visibly pumps up their hair.
fine-hair volume useOne wavy-haired user finds it lightweight and neither sticky nor crunchy, but considers the heavy musk/cologne fragrance overwhelming.
fine wavy hair that is blow-dried or flat-ironedMore from Kenra
How this page was made
- Everything above comes from our researched product record: identity, the ingredient list as printed, the brand's own claims, dated prices and review themes our researchers wrote in their own words. No part of this page is written by hand for one product.
- The value band is a fixed label over two stored numbers: this product’s cost per ounce as a percentile of every product of this type we have priced, each at the size it is most often sold in, and how many products we score as doing the same job cost at least a quarter less per ounce.
- Both scores out of ten are defined on this page. The formula score is completeness for the job, computed from a fixed per-format checklist shown beneath the gauge; the price score is cost per ounce against every product of this type we have priced.
- The "Is this right for you?" panel reads only your own consultation answers, and it applies exactly the filters our recommendation engine applies. It is computed when you load the page and is never stored on it.
- 2 sources consulted for this product (1 manufacturer or regulatory, 1 retailer, 0 editorial), last checked 2026-08-26.
- Ingredient references are linked for 6 of 16 product-aware annotations on this page. Fit notes are general formulation guidance. They aren’t a verdict on the finished product or on you.
- We haven’t tested this product in a lab, and we don’t physically test your hair. Formula readings come from the ingredient list. Claims about how it behaves are labelled as the brand's.
- Ingredient order tells you relative amount only above roughly 1%. Prices are what we saw on the dates shown and can change.
- Ingredient names link to our ingredient library, where each entry shows what it does, which product types use it, and where it usually sits on a label across everything we have researched.
- This is cosmetic information, not medical advice, and nothing here diagnoses or treats a health condition.
- Formula readings: derivation v23. Record last updated 2026-10-19.
